Birding NSW Newsletter Page 1 birding Newsletter NSW Field Ornithologists Club Inc nsw Issue 262 April 2014 President’s Report The sixth Grenfell IBA survey is the last weekend of The Committee has decided to move the Annual General March. The number of participants has held up well since 0HHWLQJWRWKH'HFHPEHUPHHWLQJSHUPDQHQWO\DVLW¿WV the surveys started in 2011. Engagement with the local well with the other major events on the Birding NSW community has been a feature of this survey, and the calendar such as the Arnold McGill Memorial Lecture and number of private properties that the Club can access for the annual Christmas party. surveys has steadily increased over the years. The Sunday ELUG ZDON KDV DOVR EHFRPH D ¿[WXUH ZKLFK UHJXODUO\ The next Bird Interest Group network (BIGnet) meeting attracts local people interested in bird watching. will take place on the second weekend of April in Canberra, hosted by the Canberra Ornithologists Group. CBOC has The Grenfell survey is just one of several such activities EHHQWKH¿UVW16:LQGHSHQGHQWFOXEWRVLJQXSWRDI¿OLDWH that involves Club members. Over many years, Birding status with BirdLife Australia, and further discussion by NSW has participated in the annual Regent Honeyeater other clubs about this proposal will occur in Canberra. and Swift Parrot survey in the Capertee Valley. Douglas Bateman has been our coordinator for this, as well as being Tom Karplus the coordinator of the tree planting that takes place twice a President, Birding NSW year there. Douglas has decided to retire from these roles at the end of the year, but he is keen to mentor anyone who wishes to take over from him. The duties can be shared between several individuals. If you are interested in helping the Club in this way, email Douglas at douglasbateman@ New Members yahoo.com or speak to a member of the Committee. A warm welcome is extended to the following new members: Hot and dry conditions have prevailed over the summer. The Australia Day campout at Coolah Tops National Park Jessica Amos Glebe NSW this year was cancelled because of a Total Fire Ban. Species Terence Bressington Nimbin NSW such as Pink-eared and Freckled Ducks have been seen in VLJQL¿FDQW QXPEHUV DW YDULRXV ORFDWLRQV DURXQG 6\GQH\ Darren Cade Rozelle NSW lately, which is usually an indication that water sources are Nadja & Jen Hasenauer Oyster Bay NSW decreasing inland. Caroline Jones Oatley NSW One top bird watching spot is Pitt Town Lagoon, where the National Parks and Wildlife Service have constructed Andrew & Barbara Melville Wyoming NSW a new bird hide in conjunction with the Cumberland Aroon O’Brien Camperdown NSW Bird Observers Club (CBOC). Elisabeth and I attended Ida Rhone & Jason Smart Waverley NSW the opening ceremony in February. Over 80 people were there to hear John Dengate, the Patron of the CBOC, give Nathan Tolentino Eastwood NSW the speech and cut the ribbon. John has agreed to be our Anne Wark Glebe NSW Arnold McGill Memorial Lecturer this year. He will be WDONLQJDERXWKRZELUGVÀ\ PRINT POST APPROVED PP100001080 Page 2 Birding NSW Newsletter CLUB ACTIVITIES FIELD OUTINGS AND MEETINGS FIELD OUTINGS Bring a snack, lunch and a chair. NATIONAL PARK USE FEES Club Outings are sometimes held in National Parks. A valid day pass or annual pass is necessary for 46 national parks in NSW and that includes most in the Sydney and Central Coast Regions. The pass must be displayed on your vehicle at all times while you are in the park. TOTAL FIRE BANS Members are reminded that no Central Coast outings are held on days when Total Fire Bans are in force. For Sydney outings in times of a Total Fire Ban, check with the outing leader. SECURITY Members are reminded not to leave anything of value visible in unattended vehicles while bird watching. CENTRAL COAST OUTINGS Sydney Members should advise the leader in advance if they are coming to an outing so that they don’t leave without you! FEES AT CAMPOUTS A camping fee may be applicable at some campsites. PETS Members are reminded that pets including dogs are not allowed on any Club activity including campouts. HEALTH AND SAFETY :KHQDWWHQGLQJ¿HOGRXWLQJVHQVXUH\RXDUHZHDULQJDSSURSULDWHFORWKLQJLQFOXGLQJZHWZHDWKHUJHDULQLQFOHPHQWZHDWKHUDQG suitable footwear. It is advisable to bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and to carry water. 3OHDVHVLJQWKHDWWHQGDQFHUHJLVWHUDW¿HOGRXWLQJVDQGDOVRDWWKHPHHWLQJV If you leave the outing early please let the leader know before you go. Participants attend at their own risk and should refrain from any behaviour that might put themselves or others at risk. That includes DVVHVVLQJZKHWKHUWKH\KDYHDOHYHORI¿WQHVVUHTXLUHGIRUWKHDGYHUWLVHGRXWLQJ,ILQGRXEWFRQWDFWWKHRXWLQJOHDGHUEHIRUHKDQG APRIL Anzac Long Weekend Campout 25–27 April: Backyamma State Forest near Forbes. Travel from Orange Tuesday 1 April Club Meeting: The Mitchell Theatre, along Forbes Road to about 5 kilometres past Eugowra and Level 1, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt then turn right at the sign for ‘Parkes’. Travel another 12 Street, Sydney at 7.30 pm, ‘Stopping and reversing the kilometres past Eugowra and turn left into a lane. Head due decline of Australia’s birdlife’, speaker: Shauna Chadlowe. west, go through a gate into the forest, over a grid on top Saturday 5 April Club Outing: Royal National Park. of a hill and through another gateway. The campsite will Meet 8.30 am at Wattle Forest Picnic Area near Audley. be on the right about 5 kilometres from the Parkes road. Turn into Lady Carrington Drive at Audley, then right over Bring everything that you need including garbage bags and the timber bridge to the western side of the river. Turn water. Leader: Allan Richards 9660-8062 left and meet at the last car park. Lunch at cars. Leader: Elisabeth Karplus 9816 2285; 0421 665 553 Saturday 26 April Central Coast Outing: Glenola Reserve, Bunning Creek. Meet at 8.30 am opposite the Wednesday 9 April Central Coast Half-day Outing: Yarramalong Church, 800 metres west of Yarramalong. Dog Trap Road, Somersby. Meet 8.30 am at Somersby Lunch at cars. Leader: Margaret Pointer 4374 1163 Store, junction of Wisemans Ferry Road and Peats Ridge Road, Somersby. Lunch at cars. Leader: Wendy Gillespie Wednesday 30 April Midweek Outing: Warriewood per Alan Morris 02 4334 2776 Wetlands. Meet 8.00 am at Katoa Close, Warriewood. Lunch at cars. Leader: Coleen Southall 9982 5453 or 0410 Saturday 12 April Club Outing: Chiltern Road and 549 321 various other sites along the Northern Beaches. Meet 9.00 am at the end of Chiltern Road, Ingleside. Lunch at cars. Leader: Coleen Southall 9982 5453 or 0410 549 321 MAY Tuesday 22 April Central Coast Meeting: Meet in Weekend Central Coast Campout 2–4 May. Wallamba the Progress Hall in Anzac Street, Tuggerah opposite River Holiday Park, 99 Aquatic Road, North Tuncurry McDonalds at 7.30 pm, ‘Birding on Norfolk Island’, about 14 km north of Tuncurry. Tel: 6554 3123 or 1800 speaker: Michael Scobie. 267 176. Leader: Alan Morris 02 4334 2776 Birding NSW Newsletter Page 3 Saturday and Sunday 3–4 May Capertee Valley Regent Wednesday 11 June Central Coast Half-day Outing: Honeyeater Project–Tree Planting: Volunteers are Woy Woy and Blackwalls Bay. Meet 8.30 am at Lions needed to plant trees. For more information contact Pixie Park, North Burge Road, Woy Woy. Lunch at cars. Leader: DW WKH %LUG/LIH $XVWUDOLD 6\GQH\ 2I¿FH Christina Port 02 4340 4767 [email protected] Saturday 14 June Club Outing: Warriewood Wetlands. Tuesday 6 May Club Meeting: The Mitchell Theatre, Meet at 9.00 am in the picnic area at the corner of Katoa Level 1, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt Close and Garden Street, Warriewood. Lunch at cars. Street, Sydney at 7.30 pm, ‘Pictures of penguins and shags Leader: Allan Richards 9660 8062 or 0432 064 660 in the South Atlantic’, speaker: Michael Edwards. Tuesday 24 June Central Coast meeting: Meet in Saturday 10 May Club Outing: Hawkesbury area. Meet the Progress Hall in Anzac Street, Tuggerah opposite at 8.30 am at the car park for Scheyville National Park McDonalds at 7.30 pm, ‘Birding in Myanmar’, speaker: 2I¿FHRII6FKH\YLOOH5RDG/XQFKDWFDUV/HDGHU$OODQ Allan Richards. Richards 9660 8062 or 0432 064 660 Wednesday 25 June Midweek Outing: Windsor Downs. Wednesday 14 May Central Coast Half-day Outing: Meet at 8.30 am at the end of Sanctuary Drive, Windsor Jilliby and Dooralong. Meet at 8.30 am at the junction Downs, off Richmond Rd. Lunch at cars. Leader: Carol of Hue Hue and Jilliby Roads, just north-west of Wyong. Abbott 9980 1201 or 0414 312 538 Lunch at cars. Leader: Alan Morris 02 4334 2776 Saturday 28 June Central Coast Outing: South Tacoma. Saturday 17 May Club Outing: Royal National Park. Meet at 8.30 am at McPherson Road Swamp, corner of Meet 8.30 am at Wattle Forest Picnic Area near Audley. Gavenlock and McPhersons Roads, Tuggerah. Lunch at Turn into Lady Carrington Drive at Audley, then right over cars. Leader: Alan Morris 02 4334 2776 the timber bridge to the western side of the river. Turn left and meet at the last car park. Lunch at cars. Leader: Coleen Southall 9982 5453 or 0410 549 321 WANTED: BIRDING NSW REPRESENTATIVE ON THE REGENT HONEYEATER TREE PLANTING Sunday 18 May Nestlings’ Outing combined with COMMITTEE AND ORGANISER OF THE OCTOBER Cumberland Bird Observers Club: Warriewood SURVEYS OF THE REGENT HONEYEATERS IN THE Wetlands. A morning for children from 5–12 years old CAPERTEE VALLEY accompanied by an adult. Meet 9 am at Katoa Close, off This is Douglas Bateman’s last year and he will be happy Garden Street, Warriewood. Bring a morning snack, drink, to liaise with the new person for as long as they need any hat and sunscreen.